Justin Bieber kickstarts Xmas in New York City

Justin Bieber, Tony Bennett and Neil Diamond got the holiday season off to a musical start in New York on Wednesday night (30Nov11) when they performed festive tunes for thousands of fans gathered for the 79th lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.

Michael Buble celebrated taking his new album Christmas to the top of the charts by kicking off the celebration with a rendition of I'll Be Home For Christmas and New York local Bennett wowed the crowd with his version of The Christmas Song.

But the night belonged to Bieber, who performed a new hip-hop version of Little Drummer Boy with rapper Busta Rhymes, a rendition of The Christmas Song with Usher and he also debuted his All I Want For Christmas music video with Mariah Carey during the live telecast.

More than 400,000 music fans wrapped up warm for the free winter celebration.

Other acts singing underneath the big tree included Cee-Lo Green, Carole King, Big Time Rush and Katharine McPhee.

Country star Faith Hill was forced to pull the plug on her Rockefeller Center performance at late notice.

A reason for the cancellation was not given but Hill was spotted supporting her husband Tim McGraw in court in Tennessee earlier in the day.

McGraw was battling to end his contract with record executives at Curb Records.